Improvement in crutches



L. F. WELDON.

cnUTcHEs. I i No. 190,392. Patented Ma y1,1e77.

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UNrrED STATES PATENT OFFICE LAWRENCE E. WELDoN, or NEW YORK', N. Y.

kSpecification forming part of Letters Patent No. 190,392, dated May 1, 18.77; applioationled April 16,1811.

To all 'whom` it may concern:

Be it known 1, that I, LAWRENCE F. WEL- DON, of New York, in the county of New York and State of New York, have invented certain j new and useful Improvements in Grutches, of

which the following is a specification:

This invention relates tocertain improvements in the construction of crutches and other similar supports for the infirm and disabled, its object being' to render such supports more comfortable and convenient to use, and provide for adjusting the same to suit persons of different statureS.

My invention consists, rst, in an arm-rest having a stem, inclined braces, and a collar. atl

tached to the lower end of the latter, comi bined with the sta, having in its upper end a spring, upon whichthe end of the stem bears, the collarriding around the upper end of the staff, as will hereinafter more fully appear;

second, in. the combination, with the upper end of a crutch, of the arm-rest'provided with a slotted collar, adapted to slide upon the said end, and a lug or projection ou said end, fitting into said s1ot,for thepurposeof preventing the arm from turning, asmore fully hereinafter `set forth third, in the-combination, in a crutch,

of the two telescoping sections-and their fasten- `ing devices, a yielding arm-rest and foot-piece, and a yielding `hand-hold, all constructed to operate substantially as hereinafter more fully setforth.

Invthe drawings, Figure 1 is a side elevation of my improved crutch. Fig. 2 is a similar view, partly in section. Fig. 3 is a transverse.

sectional view on the line a: of Fig. 1.

In the drawings, the letter A represents the staff of the crutch, which is-constructed or' two sections or tubes, a b, preferably of metal,

Y `the lower section is provided with ayelding section, F, which is capable of a slight longitudinal movement within said section, itsinner end resting upon a spiral spring, G, which is compressed when the weight of the body is thrown upon thecrutch. The letter H represents the arm-rest, which is provided with a projection or stem, I, which sits in the upper end of the upper section, resting upon a spiral spring, K, located within said section, which allows the arm-rest to yield simultaneously with the foot-piece in the lower section when Athe weight of the body is brought to bear upon the crutch. From said arm-rest depend two inclined braces, M, secured at their lower ends to a slotted collar, N, the collar riding slightly in a longitudinal direction upon the upper end'of the upper section, being preventedfrom turning thereon by means of a lug, O, secured to said upper section, and

projecting through the slot in the collar.

"Ehe-letter P represents the aand-hold, which,

in' the present instance, is ade detachable, and secured adjustably to the upper section of the crutch by means otl dovetailed feather R,

extending longitudinally along one side of the upper section, the hand-hold being provided with a dovetailed recess ou its under side to engage the dovetailed feather, and capable of avertical movement thereon, the hand-hold being provided vwith set-screws 'l and U,

adapted to be fastened iu apertures in the dovetailed feather, so as to confine said haudf hold in'any desired position. The hand-hold is preferably made in two sections, one of which forms the handle, and the other the support secured to the crutch-staff, the handle- -section .telescoping over the other,'and the two being provided with a spiral spring, W, by which ayielding movement is given 'to the handle as well as other portions of the crutch.

The motion of said handle secured in the supporting-section is limited by a lug, w, on the said supporting-section, which projects through a. slot, o, in the handle-section.

What I claim, and desire to securev by Let- 1. The arm-rest lH, having the stem I, inclined braces M, and collar N in combination with the staff A, provided in its' upper end with a spring, K, as and for the purpose described.

2. The combination, with the staff A, havigon" its-'side' the dovetel'ed feather R, of the lt'erally-projeeting hand-11M, -hiqving ard'ovetailed recess adapted to the featherR, and a set-screw for fastening it in any adjusted po sition, substantially as described.

3. The combination, with theppper end of the crutch, of an ami-rest prvi'eled witk at slotted collar adapted to slide upon said upper e and the slot sitting over-'a ilugt, on'the'=lat=' b315801- the purpose of preventing 'theariirest from turning, substantially as set forth.

4. Eheonebination in a-.oruteh-of-the two" telescopng seotionlQ-i'their fastening, ia'

hahdlhol'd, all constructed' and arranged to operate together substantially as Vund for the -purposes set forth.

presence of the subscribing witnesses.

' J. C. STOWELL,

. P. Jl-:immer 

